Swim cap



May 30, 1967 .J. J. ARPS ETAL SWIM CAP Filed Oct. 19, 1964 FIG. 3

CARL E. HASKETT A TTOR/VEY United States Patent Filed Oct. 19, 1964,Ser. No. 404,706 7 Claims. (Cl. 2---68) This invention relates to abathing cap and more particularly to a cap in which capillary forcesserve to direct flow of water away from hair covered thereby and toentrap such water as may tend to enter the cap.

A primary object in the use of a bathing cap 15 to minimize or avoidwetting the ban. Var ous cap constructions have been employed in thepast in attempts to form a seal between the rim of a bathing cap and theskull. If an effective seal is formed, then hair inside the cap will bemaintained free from moisture when the head is submerged. However, thefailure of such prior art structures is the common experience andrepresents a direct 1mpediment to wide participation in aquaticactlvities. i The present invention provides a bathing cap which w llprotect the hair and will serve to entrap and collect moisture tendingto flow along the skull underneath a bathing cap. In a further aspect,the invention relates to a multiple layer cap having a capillary forcegenerator between the two layers which tends to suck any water travelingunder the rim of the cap and along the skull into the capillaryreservoir and to avoid and prevent entry of water into the inner cap andto wet the hair.

More particularly, in accordance with the invention, there is provided acombination of an inner cap forming an impervious membrane with acentral aperture An outer impervious membrane or cap larger than theinner cap is maintained in spaced relation from the inner cap by astrongly hydrophylic material of high porosity having strong capillarypressure characteristics. The layer has a peripheral zone of contactoutside the margin of the inner cap to draw water flowing towards theinner cap into the zone between the two caps for entrapping such water.In a further aspect, means are provided for generating an inert gas inthe region between the caps for the production of an enhancedoverpressure inside the inner cap. In a further aspect, the reservoir isprovided in the zone between the caps in the region surrounding theapertures in the inner cap.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and forfurther objects and advantages thereof, reference may now be had to thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates the gram-matic form;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the cap of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a partial section of the gas generator insert.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, the invention has been illustrated ascomprising a dual layer cap. In practice it may actually take the for-mof two separate caps or of a single cap having two layers in which theentire edge portion of the outer cap is adapted to engage the skinoutside the perimeter of the inner cap. More particularly, the inner capis like a conventional cap and is somewhat smaller than the outer cap12. Cap 10 goes over the head, covering the hair. Cap 10 is providedwith a plurality of holes 14 in the center. Cap 12 is positioned overthe cap 10 and extends beyond the margin of cap 10.

The inner surface of cap 12 is lined with a layer 20 of material whichhas strong capillary characteristics. Layer 20 may be of material suchas a sponge rubber, a natural sponge, synthetic materials, plastics,diatomatious earth present invention in a diacap showing a or likematerials which have a high porosity, a low permeability, high capillarycharacteristics, and are extremely Water wet. Layer 2% has a centralaperture 22 therein. The margin of aperture 22 is spaced 2. distancefrom the holes 14 in the cap 1%. A ring 24 of like material encirclesthe holes 14 to assure the presence of a reservo1r 26 around holes 14.

In operation any water that enters the outer cap 12 will, by thecapillary action, be sucked up in layer 20. The capillary forces aregreater than the force tending to move water inside cap Ill. Watermoving into the layer 20 between the cap 10 and cap 12 will displace airwhich can only escape through holes 14. This causes an overpressure onthe interior of cap 10, thereby keeping water from entering it. The ring24 around the holes 14 traps any water that has wetted the layer 20 andprevents the Water from getting into the hair through holes 14. Moreparticularly, Water is sucked up into the absorbent layer 21 but When itencounters an air gap such as between the layer 20 and ring 24, which isnot filled with absorbent material, it cannot continue to advancebecause there is no absorbent material to continue the capillaryprocess. However, if any water gets into this space because of eX-ternal or squeeze pressure exerted on the outer cap, some of the waterwhich has invaded the absorbent mass may be squeezed into the air gap.This might be caused by external pressure, but would not be due tocapillary action. To prevent such squeeze Water from reaching apertures14 a barrier is provided. This barrier is ring 24, which will pick upwater squeezed out of the absorbent mass across the air gap so that itwill not get through apertures 14 into the hair under the inner cap 10Thus, the present invention involves a double bathing cap, with thehighly capillary layer in the intermediate space which not only sucks upthe water but in doing so expels air, which in turn keeps the water outof the inner cap. Note that there is a portion of layer 20 exposed forcontact with the skin outside the rim of cap 10 which provides for entryof water into the zone between caps 10 and 12.

In construction, the

present invention is contrary to most bathing caps. In the past,manufacturers have tried to assure a tight fit to keep the water out.For several reasons this approach is erroneous. First, headaches resultwhen the straps are tightened too much. Second, and more important, astwo surfaces are closely pressed together, the capillary force sucks thewater into the cap faster. The capillary forces are made more intense bypressing two surfaces together. This feature of caps of the prior art isopposite from the basis for the present invention. The cap can be wornwith comfort. Water entering is trapped in the layer 26. With use thelayer 20 will become loaded with water. The cap may be removed, squeezedto expel the water and then put back on ready for further use.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the overpressureproduced in the layer 20 by the action of the capillary force of theporous material may be enhanced. Included at spaced locations within thelayer 20 are containers of a material which, upon being Wet, willproduce a gas which will then travel through the porous material to theholes 14! and thus increase the overpressure inside cap 10. As shown inFIGURE 3, a porous cylindrical capsule 30 is embedded in the layer 20.The capsule 30 may be located .in the region X of FIGURE 2. Anadditional capsule or capsules may be located in the region Y of FIGURE2 or may be disposed in an array having symmetry with respect to thelocation of the holes 14. The containers 30 may be thin-walled plasticcontainers which are filled with a powder which generates an inert gasupon contact with water. The containers 30 have a number of perforationsto admit advancing water. The powder may be a mixture of citric acid orsalicylic acid with sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate. The additionof water to such powder will generate an inert harmless carbon dioxidegas which will pass through the holes 14 and add to the effectiveness ofthe action of the cap. The powder to be employed may be any organicwater soluble acid mixed with a suitable carbonate or bicarbonate salt.Other mixtures of powders which will generate inert gases upon wettingby water may be employed. The action of the generator 30 enhances theaction of the strongly hydrophylic or water-wet material of highporosity and strong capillary pressure characteristics which occupy thelayer 20.

While the foregoing description has been based upon a bathing cap inwhich the inner cap and the outer cap are separate, it will be readilyappreciated that they may be made integral by interconnecting stripssuitably spaced in the areas at which the caps confront one another.Further, the porous material has been described as lining the inside ofthe outer cap 12. The lining may be affixed to both the inner and outercaps. Alternately, the liner may actually form a third layer so thatthese separate caps would be successively donned by the wearer. In suchcase, the margins of the inner cap 10, the intermediate layer 20 and theouter cap 12 would be in a successively overlapping relationship.

Having described the invention in connection with certain specificembodiments thereof, it is to be understood that further modificationsmay now suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and it isintended to cover such modifications as fall within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bathing cap which comprises:

(a) an inner cap formed of an impervious membrane having a centrallylocated aperture,

(b) an outer impervious cap larger than said inner cap, and

(c) a porous permeable layer of strongly hydrophylic water-wet materialcharacterized by high capillary pressure in the zone between said capshaving a peripheral zone disposed to contact the skull outside themargin of said inner cap and inside the margin of said outer capwhereby, upon inflow of water to said zone, capillary forces generatedin said zone create pressure in the region of said aperture tending tocause air flow through said aperture toward the margins of said innercap.

2. A bathing cap which comprises:

(a) an inner cap centrally perforated,

(b) an impervious outer cap larger than said inner cap, and

(c) means in the space at least between the margins of said inner capand said outer cap forming a contact surface for attracting watertending to enter said inner cap into the zone between said inner andsaid outer cap whereby pressure created by entry of said water createspressure in the region of said aperture tending to cause air flowthrough said aperture toward the margin of said inner cap.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which said means comprises aporous liner separating said inner cap from said outer cap and iscontinuous with said inner and outer caps except for a central apertureencompassing the perforations in said inner cap.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which the attracting meansincludes a porous member generating high capillary forces in said zoneextending outside the margin of said inner cap.

5. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which a generating meansincluded in said zone is operative when Wet to generate a gas.

6. The combination set forth in claim 6 in which the gas generatorcomprises at least one perforated container filled with an acid and acarbonate for generation of CO gas.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 in which the gas generatorcomprises an array of perforated containers each filled with an acid anda carbonate in powder form for generating CO gas when wet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,063,056 11/1962 Blanchard etal. 2-68 3,131,400 5/1964 Blanchard et al. 2-68 JORDAN FRANKLIN, PrimaryExaminer.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, H. H. HUNTER,

Assistant Examiners.

1. A BATHING CAP WHICH COMPRISES: (A) AN INNER CAP FORMED OF ANIMPERVIOUS MEMBRANE HAVING A CENTRALLY LOCATED APERTURE, (B) AN OUTERIMPERVIOUS CAP LARGER THAN SAID INNER CAP, AND (C) A POROUS PERMEABLE OFSTRONGLY HYDROPHYLIC WATER-WET MATERIAL CHARACTERIZED BY HIGH CAPILLARYPRESSURE IN THE ZONE BETWEEN SAID CAPS HAVING A PERIPHERAL ZONE DISPOSEDTO CONTACT THE SKULL OUTSIDE THE MARGIN OF SAID INNER CAP AND INSIDE THEMARGIN OF SAID OUTER CAP WHEREBY, UPON INFLOW OF WATER TO SAID ZONE,CAPILLARY FORCES GENERATED IN SAID ZONE CREATE PRESSURE IN THE REGION OFSAID APERTURE TENDING TO CAUSE AIR FLOW THROUGH SAID APERTURE TOWARD THEMARGINS OF SAID INNER CAPS.